Oskar Lindblom dominates in Flyers' rookie game win over Islanders

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EAST MEADOW, N.Y. — The Flyers’ power play lit up Long Island Wednesday night as the Flyers’ rookies knocked off the Islanders’ rookies 6-3 at the Northwell Health Ice Center.

Flyers forward Oskar Lindblom led the way with a hat trick plus two assists.

Morgan Frost collected a power-play goal to go along with a pair of helpers. 

The Flyers' top line of Mikhail Vorobyev, Carsen Twarynski and Lindblom scored three even-strength goals and two power-play goals.

Goaltender Carter Hart allowed three goals in 40 minutes of action.

Observations

Frost put on a power-play display in the opening period with a goal and an assist. Working primarily from the top left circle, Frost displayed the skills and vision that led to his explosive 112-point season last year in the OHL. One of the more impressive aspects of Frost’s game was battling in the faceoff circle. Without an official stat sheet, Frost won at least five draws in the opening period — two in the offensive zone that led to goals. His defense away from the puck is still a work in progress.   

Despite an Islanders' squad that had four first-round picks on the roster, Lindblom was the most dangerous player in this game and in constant attack mode on the offensive end — both on the power play and at even strength. The Flyers' fifth-round selection in 2014 scored two goals in a six-second span. Clearly Lindblom is playing on a much different level at this stage than last season and his offensive instincts took over.  

Don’t let the numbers alarm you regarding goaltender Hart, who played his first game in nearly five months. The Flyers' top goaltending prospect was on his toes for much of his 40 minutes of action. One goal allowed was a tip-in deflection while another was a snipe in which Hart barely moved. The Islanders’ first goal that beat Hart through the five hole is one you’d expect him to have. He was sharp within his crease while showing his agility and athleticism in making some big saves in a scoreless second period. 

Quotable 

“I feel more comfortable this year. Last year, my confidence wasn’t on top and I had to prove myself so much and I put too much pressure on myself, but I’m more relaxed this year and I felt good today.” 

— Lindblom

“I just felt a lot cleaner off releases. I was seeing the puck a lot better. I thought a couple times I was a little bit behind the play and as the game went on I started to feel a lot sharper, seeing the puck a lot better and my rebounds were cleaner. It was just good to get a game in for the first time in a long time.”

— Hart on his play in the second period

“I think there’s a couple of shifts where I played well stick on puck and then there’s a couple of shifts where I got caught running around. I wouldn’t say a perfect game defensively, but a couple of things I can build on.” 

— Frost on his defense

Lines & pairings

Lindblom-Vorobyev-Twarynski

Connor Bunnaman-German Rubtsov-Matthew Strome

Maksim Sushko-Frost-Isaac Ratcliffe

Mitchell Balmas-Hunter Holmes-Bradley Lalonde

James de Haas-Philippe Myers

David Drake-Mark Friedman

Yegor Zamula-Wyatte Wylie

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